11 Cool Ways to Celebrate Canada 150

Whether you want to munch on Canadian cuisine, learn about our storied past or break a Guinness World Record, there are plenty of ways to show off your True North pride for Canada 150. Gather your friend and family, and take them to one of the many parties and events happening in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton this year—there’s something for everyone.

Victoria

Spirit of 150 Victoria, until July 1To mark Canada’s 150th year, Victoria will host an assortment of musicians from around the country with fireworks and 100 live (free!) performances by groups such as the Funk Hunters, Arkells, De Tamps Antan. We’ll be there!

Canada 150 Food Tour, until October 31Learn about what makes Canadian cuisine so unique on this two-and-a-half-hour tour. Candied salmon, Nanaimo bars, poutine, and maple syrup are just some of the best Canadian food and drinks this tour has to offer.

Vancouver

Break a Guinness World Record at Grouse Mountain, July 1Show off your profound love for Canada by wearing your best red outfit and travelling up Grouse Mountain to be a part of the “largest human maple leaf” ever! This might just be the most Canadian thing you can do on Canada Day.

Canada Day Cookout, July 1Pay special tribute to the Great White North by treating yourself to an Austin-style outdoor party with amazing food and awesome live music at YVR Food Fest’s Canada Day Cook Out. Rock out to Jessicka, Leisure Club, afrobeat group Camaro 67, and local club favourites the Common People DJs while chomping down on some mouth-watering BBQ staples.

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Hotel, until September 3What better way to commemorate Canada’s birthday than to take a coast-to-coast culinary journey? Feast on Montreal smoked meat, lobster rolls, maple foie gras and wild berry tarts at this afternoon tea.

Unbelievable at the Museum of Vancouver, until September 24Celebrate Canada 150 by taking a trip down memory lane to learn about our storied history. This unbelievable exhibit shares the provocative tales behind some of Canada’s most enthralling artifacts—like the original Thunderbird totem pole, a full-scale bronze-cast model of Stanley Park’s Girl in a Wet Suit and the Quatchi costumes from the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Calgary

RedBall Project, until July 1New York artist Kurt Pershcke has been placing giant red balls in random cities all over the world to entertain, delight and confuse locals. This time around the red ball is bouncing into Calgary. Try to catch a glimpse of this truly Canadian red ball at various locations around the city before it rolls out July 1—it’s considered the “world’s longest-running street art work.”

Timeraiser 150, September 28It’s time to start channeling your inner philanthropist! Timeraiser 150 is a gala and auction event where you can bid on original artworks with, not money, but volunteer hours! It’s the perfect way to beef-up your art collection without spending a ton of your hard-earned cash—and it’s something you can feel good about! If you’re not sure where to begin, Timeraiser can help to connect you with non-profit organizations that are looking for people to help support their cause.

Edmonton

Canada Day Family Street Festival, July 1Visit Ford Hall at Rogers Place to enjoy this free, family-friendly street festival. Activities include live cultural and musical performance, face painting, art displays and much more. Afterwards, check out the submissions for the Canada150in150 birthday video story contest and a live concert by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan (tickets required).

Chasing Sunrise at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, July 1On Canada Day, don’t just rise to the occasion, rise before it. Join other adventure seekers at the Louise McKinney Riverfront Park parking lot at 4 a.m., hike together in your best red-and-white gear and chase the sunrise. After all, Canada is one of the best places in the world to watch the sun come up—if you can get yourself out of bed to see it.

Flannel Foxes at The Homestead, July 7Quality outdoor gear is something all Canadians rely on every once in awhile, and there’s no better way to pay homage to our great land than by wearing our best flannel. On July 7, the Homestead co-working space plays host to Flannel Foxes, a nostalgic local brand that embraces the spirit of the Canadian West with outdoor staples: sweatshirts, toques, tees and of course, flannel jackets.

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